Russ Ehrenfeld enters the ninth year of his third stint at Tennessee State after spending three seasons at Chattanooga.

Since returning, Ehrenfeld has produced numerous professional linemen, including four NFL draft picks in a two year span. Kadeem Edwards and Demetrius Rhaney were taken in the 2014 draft, while Robert Myers and Anthony Morris were selected in 2015. This marked the first time in TSU history that four lineman were drafted during a two year period.

In 2018, Ehrenfeld produced a pair of All-Ohio Valley Conference selections in first teamer Chidi Okeke and second teamer Raekwon Allen. Okeke went on to sign a free agent contract with the Washington Redskins, before joining the Kansas City Chiefs.

In 2016, Jessamen Dunker and Kevin Kenton were All-OVC selections and both earned invites to NFL camps. Dunker earned All-American honors and signed a free agent contract with the New York Giants. Kenton was invited to the New York Jets rookie minicamp

Prior to his return, Ehrenfeld helped the Mocs allow only nine sacks in 2009, tied for fewest in the Southern Conference and third lowest in the nation. UTC did not allow a sack for the last four games of the season, including a trip to FBS National Champion Alabama in the season finale.

In 2010, he turned his attention to the centers and guards, helping T.J. Hurless earn a spot on the All-SoCon second team. Add in Chris Harr and Ehrenfeld has guided two Mocs to all-league honors in his two years at UTC.

In 2011, Ehrenfeld coached tight ends, helping the Mocs to a 5-6 overall record, including a 38-17 win at then ranked No. 10 Jacksonville State on Sept. 10. Faysal Shaffat was a 2011 All-Southern Conference freshman tight end for the Mocs.

In his second stop at TSU, Ehrenfeld’s offensive line set the tone for the No. 1 rushing offense in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2007 and 2008 while allowing just the second fewest number of sacks in the league. All totaled, he has coached more than ten offensive lineman that have gone on to play professionally.

Ehrenfeld previously coached the offensive line at TSU for three seasons (1997-99), helping the Tigers capture back-to-back OVC championships in 1998 and 1999. Notably, four linemen from the 1999 team went on to play in the NFL.

A native of Hillside, N.J., Ehrenfeld played four seasons at Chattanooga, helping the Mocs claim three SoCon titles as a starting offensive guard. He earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education-history in 1981.

Following graduation, Ehrenfeld’s first coaching position was at TMI Academy as the offensive line coach. His first collegiate position was as a graduate assistant at the University of South Carolina, where he had the opportunity to coach the Gamecocks in the 1984 Gator Bowl. Since then, he has also coached at Austin Peay (1985-87, 95-96), Itawamba Community College (1988-89), Southeast Missouri State (1990-92), Eastern Michigan (1993-94), Alabama State (2000) and Bucknell (2001-02).